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All UCSD rowing parents and rowing alumni are invited to kick off the Crew Classic weekend at a Friday night (April 5) reception at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in Pacific Beach. It will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's and women's rowing teams will compete in one of the nation's top regattas this weekend as the 40th San Diego Crew Classic takes to the Tritons' home waters of Mission Bay on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

The prestigous event will feature approximately 4,400 rowers from more than 125 universities, clubs and high schools from across the country and around the world. Ranging in age from 14 to 84 years, entrants will compete in over 100 races in various divisions.

Heats and prelims will be run Saturday with finals slated for Sunday. Racing is tentatively scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. both days with action continuing until 6 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Friday will serve as a practice day on Mission Bay.

In the Varsity 8 Cal Cup, UCSD will be in a field that includes top contenders such as Bates, Bucknell, Oklahoma City, Purdue, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and the University of San Diego. There will be three seven-boat heats with the top-two finishers from each heat advancing to Sunday's grand final.

"Based on previous results, expectations are always high," said UCSD men's head coach Zach Johnson. "With a young team and such a deep field this year, we certainly have an opportunity to win, but it’s going to be an uphill battle. Our first goal is to set a tone for the weekend in the heats and go from there."

UCSD won the Cal Cup in 2007 and 2009 under Johnson.

In 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Tritons qualified to compete for the coveted, top-level Copley Cup. In 2011, UCSD became the first Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association representative and first San Diego school to advance to the Copley Cup grand final.

In last season's Copley Cup petite final, UCSD placed third of four boats, beating out Gonzaga. British Columbia won the petit final while Harvard won the grand final.

Also in 2012, the Tritons made it into the grand final of the Novice and Open races and won the JV petit final, topping crews from Gonzaga, UCSB, Washington State, USD and UCLA.

"The San Diego Crew Classic is always a lot of fun," said UCSD women's head coach Colin Truex. "It is a huge race with great spectating opportunities and we get a chance to see teams that we normally don't race against."

"In particular, we are excited to race Central Oklahoma in both the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4," said Truex. "They are competing in a very strong South Region, so we will be able to learn a lot about how the West stacks up."

The Tritons will have two boats going in the Varsity 8 San Diego Zoo and Safari Park Cup event. Saturday's action will consist of two heats with seven boats in one and six in the other. In UCSD's heat are UCSB, UC Irvine, Mills and Chapman. The top-three finishers from each heat go on to Sunday's grand final.

Last season, the Tritons' top finish came in the Novice 8. UCSD won the grand final by besting crews from Sonoma State, UC Davis, Mills, Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara.

In the 2012 Varsity 8 grand final, UC San Diego placed fourth, ahead of Orange Coast College and Western Washington, the 2011 national champion. Humboldt won the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park Cup.

UCSD will have alumni boats rowing in the Open division on both the men's and women's sides.

"The Crew Classic is a great learning experience because it really shows our novices just how big the rowing world is," said Truex. "There are teams here from Canada and Mexico, masters rowers, high school rowers and collegiate rowers from as far away as Maine, so it is a testament of how expansive the sport is."

Ticket prices for the 2013 San Diego Crew Classic and Family Festival are $12 in advance (order online at crewclassic.org) and $15 on the day of the event. Admission is free for active military with ID and for children under 12 years of age.

Parking is $15 per car at Crown Point Shores. There is free parking available at Ski Beach, (off of Ingraham Street and across from the entrance to Paradise Point Resort), with free shuttle service to the regatta.

For complete event information, including a detailed schedule of events, please visit crewclassic.org.